Coin controlled time alarm device



Jan. 13, 1953 H. K. PRICE ETTAL COIN CONTROLLED TIME ALARM DEVICE 2 Sl-iEETSSHEET 1 Filed Sept. 26, 1947 a 9 w J Y |.I|.|.\ 1 w y a \w M y flz r //I 4 w L m IN V EN TOR5 Jan. 13, 1953 H. K. PRICE ETAL COIN CONTROLLED TIME ALARM DEVICE 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1947 a 5 w W W H /m 5 4 l v 7 /fi//A 3/? u m FH L, T YL'UR AT 'T' NEY Patented Jan. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN CONTROLLED TIME ALARM DEVICE Herbert K. Price and Joseph L. Taylor, San Francisco, Calif.

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an improved coin controlled time alarm device and has special reference to a coin controlled alarm clock, which clock can be of the conventional clock sprin type or a standard electrically operated time device and is particularly adapted for use in auto camps, motels, various kinds of resorts and the like. It is a well known fact that many such places are not equipped with an alarm system for awakening their tenants making it necessary for each tenant to carry an alarm clock or be greatl inconvenienced by the uncertainty of not being awakened. It is an object of the present invention to provide a coin controlled time device that is especially' constructed to be substantially secured in auto cabins and the like, the use of which will net landlords a reasonable profit and which will also be a great relief to tenants by giving positive assurance of their being awakened at the desired time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin controlled device of the character described that can be employed in combination with a conventional alarm clock, either, mechanical or electrical and which will set the alarm by inserting a coin, the construction of the device being such as will permit the adjustments of the clock to be free to be manipulated by the user.

A.further object of the present invention is preferably to set the alarm by securing an extension to the alarm control and to impart movement to the extension by a coin operatin against a wedge whereby the alarm will be set.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a coin controlled time alarm device of the character described that is durable, simple in construction, positive in operation and highly efficient and serviceable in use.

7 Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein for the purpose of illustration, like numerals designate like parts throughout-the same,

' Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the coin controlled time alarm device embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in direction of the arrows, for the purpose of clarity, the alarm clock and coin plunger being shown in elevation,

; Fig. 3 is a sectional fragmentary view taken on line 3 of Fig. 2, illustrating how the deposited coin is diverted to the coin box,

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of a modified form of the invention for accomplishing electrically, the identical work illustrated in Fig. 2, and I H Fig. 5 is a modified view of a wiring diagram that can be employed in the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings and to the numerals designating the different parts thereof, the numeral 1 designates as a whole a substantial housing for retaining a conventional spring or electric operated alarm clock 8 as shown to advantage in Fig. 2. The said housing can be a simple die casting or made in any other suitable manner and is provided with a door 9 for enclosing the said clock, which door is hingedly secured to one side portion of the housing as at It and locked to the opposite side as at l l, shown to advantage in Fig. 1. Any conventional locking means well known in the art can be provided and the housing recessed in a standard manner for accommodating the same. A transparent window 12 is provided in the door for completely enclosing the clock. The lower portion of the housing is recessed as at I3 for accommodating a suitable coin drawer l4, which coin drawer is pro vided with a conventional lock 15.

Many standard makes of alarm clocks, both spring operated and electrically operated are each provided with a small alarm release stem that extends through the back of the clock housin the stem being provided with a small knob for enabling the stem to be easily pulled outwardly when it is desired to set the alarm. In the illustration shown in Fig. 2, the numeral l6 designates the alarm release stem, the knob being removed. An extension stem ll recessed as at I8 is secured to the alarm release stem by a suitable screw or pin 19. The said extension stem I! is formed with a reduced portion 20 that ex.- tends through an angular shaped or wedge mem ber 2|, a suitable sleeve 22 being integrally fixed to the said reduced stem portion 20, whereby the wedge is rigidly secured to the stem. The said sleeve 22 is slidably received in an aperture 23 provided in the plate 24, which plate is integrally fixed to the back of the housing or can be locked thereto in any suitable manner. Suitable extension stems 25, 26, 21 and 28 are provided for winding the clock, winding the alarm, adjusting the time of the clock and adjustin the alarm, each of the said extension stems being fixed to their respective clock stems in a similar manner as described for the alarm release stem and project through apertures 29 provided in the plate 24. A suitable opening 30 extends through the said plate 24 and rear housing Wall to the back of the clock for permittng a small elongated instrument to be employed for regulating the speed of the clock.

In Fig. 2 there is disclosed to advantage a slot 3| in the housing door 9 and a downwardly curved slot 32 in the front wall of the housing, which slot 32 leads from the door slot to the wedge 2| Iorconveying the coin 33 to the said wedge.

3 A vertical slot or suitable hole 34 extends from the slot 32 through the top of the housing and is positioned directly above the operating position of the coin 33. A suitable plunger 35 preferably formed flat at the lower portion thereof is mounted in, the said vertical slot 34 and extends above the top of the housing, the upper portion of the said plunger is reduced and forms a round rod 36 for accommodating the coil spirng 31. plate 38 apertured as at 39 for receiving the plunger rod 36 is welded or otherwise integrally fixed to the top of the housing and a suitable handle 40 is fixed to the top of the plunger rod; the said coil spring 31 being compressed between. the said handle and plate, whereby the said plunger 35 is resiliently retained in its upper normal position and out the coin slot 32.

From the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing it is obvious that all that is required to set the alarm is to insert a coin in the slot 31 and after the coin has rolled to its operating position as shown at 33, press the handle 40 downwardly. When the said handle 40 is pressed downwardly the bottom of the plunger will be pressed against the coin 33 exerting a pressure against the wedge 2i forcing the wedge 2| and alarm stem extension I! outwardly thus pulling the clock alarm stem It outwardly and setting the alarm. The lowerportion of the slot 32 is enlarged as at Al in Fig.

3 and terminates at an angle as shown at 42, thus diverting the coin into a downwardly ex tending passageway 43 to the coin box It. The clock alarm stem l6 can be moved back to its normal position by merely pushing the stem extension ll inwardly. A strong chain or any other suitable locking means can be provided and inserted through the apertured lug 4 to lock the housing to a fixed object and to thereby prevent the device from being stolen.

The modified form of the invention disclosed to advantage in Fig. 4 embodies the same principle of pulling out the clock alarm stem 16 as shown in Fig, 2, but the operation is accom plished electrically instead of mechanically. The numeral 45 in Fig. 4 designates a suitable housing into which is mounted the alarm clock 8 having the clock alarm stem l6. An extension 46 is secured to the said stem and is pivotally secured to an oscillitating lever il as at E8, the said lever being pivotally secured to the housing as at 49.

A movable plunger 59 is connected to the said lever 41 as at 5! and the said plunger is longitudinally moved by a solenoid 52, whereby the lever 41 is operated for pulling the extension 46 and clock alarm stem [5 outwardly for setting the alarm. A projecting stem 53 secured to the outer end of the lever fil extends through an opening 54 in the housing wall, whereby the clock alarm stem l6 can be pushed back to its normal end of the'said solenoid to the bronze strip 51.

A third electric conductor 62 leads from the bronze strip 58 to the source of supply The numeral 63 designates a switch in the said line 62. The slot is of the necessary width to receivethe desired coin. Whenthecoinisdropped into the said slot, the circuit becomes closed energizing the solenoid 52 pulling the plunger in the direction of the arrow 64 thus operating the lever :31 and pulling out the clock alarm stem l5 and thereby setting the alarm.

Although the foregoing description has been directed to pulling the alarm control stem outwardly for setting the alarm of clocks in which such stems are provided it is to be understood that the sameprinciple can be applied to alarm clocks having a lever control for setting the alarm. In alarm clocks of such construction the member "in Fig. 2 or the member 46 in Fig.4. designated as extensions, would be connected to the clock lever and positioned at right angles thereto, the connection being made in a suitable conventional manner for permitting the proper movement of the various parts. The positioning of the coin control mechanism could be relatively varied accordingly without departing from the principle of the invention,

The illustration shown in Fig. 5 embodies the same principle of pulling the control stem and is a modified form of the invention and provided for electric clocks only. In this modified form of the invention the solenoid core or plunger 65 becomes the stem pulled outwardly for setting the alarm. The inner end portion of the said plunger is beveled as at 56 and adaptedto fit into the electric alarm stop 61. The said'plunger is slidably supported in the housing 68 as at 69 and 10, which housing is shown as being made of plastic but can be formed of metal and the various parts properly insulated. A spring mem ber ll secured to the housing 68 as at E2 resiliently retains the said plunger 65 in its normally closed position. The solenoid 73 functions, when energized, to pull the plunger free from the said alarm control 61 and to thereby set the alarm.

The numeral, designates the coin slot in the housing 68 and numerals 15 and 16 oppositely opposed slightly resilient or flexible strips of metal secured beneath the top of the slot and relatively positioned to receive the coin H when it falls through the said slot and to also have a close contact with the sides of the said coin. An electric conductor '13 connects the metal strip 15 to the source of electric supply 19 and a second electric conductor connects the metal strip 16 to the inner end of the solenoid 13, a third electric conductor 8! connecting the opposite end of the solenoid to the source of electric supply. Electric conductors 82 and 83 form the circuit for energizing the motor or coil 84 and conductors B5 and 86 designate the alarm conductors. A rigid plastic or insulation member 81 is fixed on the inner end portion of the solenoid core 65 and carries an electric contact member 88, which contact member is connected by a flexible conductor 89 to the conductor 80 that leads to the metal coin slot strip 76. An electric contact member 90 is positioned in front of the contact member 88 and is connected by the line 9| to the conductor 18, which conductor is connected to the coin slot metal strip 75, a switch 92 being provided in said line.

From the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing it will be apparent that when the coin 11 passes through the slot 14 and between the metal strips 15 and "i5, contacting the same, will close the circuit and energize the solenoid 13 which will pull the plunger 65 in the direction of the arrow 93 and free from the alarm stop 61 and thus set the alarin. The contact member 88 will also be closed against the contact member 90 keeping the circuit closed and the alarm set after the coin passes into the coin box. The alarm will continue to remain set until the switch 92 is opened, after which the alarm can be re-set by closing the said switch. A small suitable light 94 is connected into the solenoid circuit to indicate when the alarm is set.

It is to be understood that the forms of our in vention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes relative to the shape, size, material and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the sub-joined claim.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

A coin controlled time alarm device of the character described, embodying in its construction a rectangular housing, an alarm clock mounted therein, a door hingedly secured to the housing and capable of enclosing the alarm clock therein, the said clock having a movable stem for setting and releasing the alarm, an extension secured to the said stem, a lever having an end portion thereof pivotally secured to said extension, means pivotally securing the intermediate portion of the lever to the housing, a solenoid pivotally secured HERBERT K. PRICE. JOSEPH L. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 794,718 Krause July 18, 1905 982,689 Perrin Jan. 24, 1911 1,060,379 Teachout Apr. 29, 1913 2,073,834 Duany Mar. 16, 1937 2,213,240 Clausen Sept. 3, 1940 

